Work-related musculoskeletal risk among refugees: recommendations for improvement to promote health and well-being

Abstract

Refugees fall under the umbrella term of immigrants. Whereas immigrants chose to leave their host country for positive reasons, refugees are pushed out due to war and fear of persecution. The work they pursue does not align with their education and experience and oftentimes leaves them vulnerable to increased health and safety hazards causing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Current publicly available resources and guidelines ignore their unique psychosocial profiles and homogenize refugees with all other workers. The resultant consequences are not only of concern to refugees but to healthcare providers, employers, and insurance companies as well as policymakers alike. A focus on the complex ways in which MSDs interact with refugee resettlement should be reflected in future MSD prevention guidelines to promote refugee health and well-being and advance Canada’s mandate to provide a safe, secure, and humane refugee program.